Serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger and method for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A heat exchanger for a heat exchange operation such as sensible heat exchange, evaporation and condensation, and more particularly, a serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger where a heat exchanger coil which guides a heat transfer medium for a heat exchange is formed in a serpentine shape, and a method for manufacturing the same. The serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger coil having a plurality of linear coils disposed in parallel, and a connection coil disposed between the two neighboring linear coils and fittedly-coupled to the linear coils such that a serpentine-type inner passage is formed as the linear coils are connected to each other by the connection coil; and a frame having an edge forming portion which forms an edge such that the heat exchanger coil is installed therein, and a supporting portion which supports the heat exchanger coil installed in an edge formed by the edge forming portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for a heat exchangeoperation such as sensible heat exchange, evaporation and condensation,and more particularly, to a serpentine-type serviceable heat exchangerwhere a heat exchanger coil which guides a heat transfer medium for aheat exchange is formed in a serpentine shape, and a method formanufacturing the same.

2. Background of the Invention

A heat exchanger serves to heat or cool a heat transfer medium (e.g.,cooling water, hot water, a refrigerant, etc.) by a heat exchangeoperation using air, water, etc. This heat exchanger is mainly appliednot only to an air conditioner for home and a refrigerator, but also toa cooling tower which cools cooling water by heat-exchanging withoutdoor air so that the cooling water used in a condenser for anindustrial freezer can be re-used.

The heat exchanger has various structures according to a usage purpose,a capacity, etc. Actually, a cooling tower requiring a large capacityadopts the following serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a serpentine-type serviceable heatexchanger in accordance with the conventional art.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional serpentine-type serviceable heatexchanger has a configuration in which a heat exchanger coil 10 whichguides a heat transfer medium is formed in a serpentine shape, and theheat exchanger coil 10 is supported by a frame 20. The heat exchangercoil 10 may be integrally manufactured by extrusion molding, or may bemanufactured by bending a long coil connected as one by welding(bonding), etc., in the form of a serpentine.

However, the conventional serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger mayhave the following problems.

Firstly, if corrosion occurs in the heat exchanger coil 10, a corrosionlayer is generated in the heat exchanger coil 10. This may lower a heatexchange performance, and may severely shorten the lifespan of the heatexchanger coil 10. This may cause the heat exchanger coil 10 to bereplaced by a new one with a predetermined period. Especially, in a casethat a heat transfer medium inside the heat exchanger coil 10 isdischarged for prevention of freezing in winter, the inside of the heatexchanger coil 10 is open when discharging the heat transfer medium andre-filling a heat transfer medium. In this case, the inside of the heatexchanger coil 10 may be drastically corroded due to reactions withoxygen. Accordingly, the inside of the heat exchanger coil 10 as well asthe outside of the heat exchanger coil 10 has to be prevented from beingcorroded.

Since the heat exchanger applied to a cooling tower, etc. has a largecapacity, it is not easy to maintain and repair the heat exchanger, andhigh costs are required to maintain and repair the heat exchanger.Furthermore, the heat exchanger coil 10 has to be entirelymaintained/repaired and replaced.

However, the heat exchanger coil 10 having undergone zinc galvanizingand anticorrosion coating cannot undergo a welding process, a bendingprocess, etc. for manufacture in a serpentine shape, due to damages ofthe zinc galvanizing and anticorrosion coating. Once the heat exchangercoil 10 has been completed, it is impossible to perform zinc galvanizingand anticorrosion coating with respect to the inside of the heatexchanger coil 10 due to a long serpentine shape of the heat exchangercoil 10. Besides, the heat exchanger coil 10 is welded in a state ofbeing positioned on a steel bar 22 of the frame 20. Accordingly, theheat exchanger coil 10 cannot undergo zinc galvanizing and anticorrosioncoating, and a welded part of the heat exchanger coil 10 is easilycorroded. This may cause the conventional serpentine-type serviceableheat exchanger to be very vulnerable to corrosion.

To solve the problems, have been proposed the following methods forpreventing corrosion of the heat exchanger coil 10.

If the heat exchanger is a water cooled type in which a heat transfermedium is a fluid, the heat exchanger does not operate in winter butoperates only in summer. Accordingly, not only a heat transfer medium,but also an antifreeze solution such as ethylene glycol and ananticorrosive agent are injected into the heat exchanger coil 10.

However, the injection of the antifreeze solution and the anticorrosiveagent may result in increase of initial investments costs, and periodicinjections thereof may increase maintenance and repair costs.Furthermore, when the antifreeze solution and the anticorrosive agentare replaced by new ones, waste materials may occur and the wastematerials may result in environmental destruction.

If an antifreeze solution and an anticorrosion agent each having a smallspecific heat are injected to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger hasa lowered efficiency than in a case when no antifreeze solution and noanticorrosion agent have been injected. In order to prevent the loweringof efficiency, the heat exchanger has to be designed to have a largercapacity. However, if the capacity of the heat exchanger increases, acirculation amount of the heat transfer medium also increases, resultingin increase of a pump capacity and a driving power of a motor of acooling fan. This may cause drastic increases of initial investmentcosts and driving costs.

Accordingly, required are methods capable of more efficiently preventingcorrosion of the heat exchanger coil 10.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an aspect of the detailed description is to provide aserpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger capable of allowing theinside as well as the outside to easily undergo zinc galvanizing,anticorrosion coating, etc., and a method for manufacturing the same.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, thereis provided a serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger, the heatexchanger comprising: a heat exchanger coil having a plurality of linearcoils disposed in parallel, and a connection coil disposed between thetwo neighboring linear coils and fittedly-coupled to the linear coilssuch that a serpentine-type inner passage is formed as the linear coilsare connected to each other by the connection coil; and a frame havingan edge forming portion which forms an edge such that the heat exchangercoil is installed therein, and a supporting portion which supports theheat exchanger coil installed in an edge formed by the edge formingportion.

The connection coil may be bent in a horseshoe shape.

The connection coil may include a body portion which forms an innerpassage of the heat exchanger coil, and a joint integrally provided atthe body portion so as to be fittedly-coupled to the linear coils in aseparable manner. The joint may include a body extending from the bodyportion, configured to accommodate the linear coils therein, and havingan inclination portion of which diameter is gradually decreased towardthe joint from the body portion; stopping members formed in an arc shapeof the same size, separated from each other in a circumferentialdirection of the body, and configured to lock or unlock the linear coilsaccommodated in the body while moving along the inclination portion ofthe body; and a shaft-direction elastic member configured to elasticallysupport the stopping members toward the joint from the body portion.

The supporting portion may be formed in plurality in a lengthwisedirection of the linear coils.

The supporting portion may be fixed to the edge forming portion, or maybe detachably coupled to the edge forming portion.

The supporting portion may have a groove or a hole for mounting thelinear coils.

The supporting portion may be configured as a plate in which the hole isformed in plurality.

The holes of the supporting portion may be formed by punching the platein a direction where the linear coils are inserted, and by protrudingthe punched parts.

The protruded punched parts of the supporting portion may be cut inplurality so as to be separated from each other along the circumferenceof the hole.

A bush may be interposed between the hole of the supporting portion andthe linear coils.

The frame may include a first header and a second header connected totwo ends of the heat exchanger coil, respectively, and configured toguide introduction and discharge of a heat transfer fluid. The firstheader and the second header may be fittedly-coupled to the heatexchanger coil by the joint.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, thereis also provided a method for manufacturing a serpentine-typeserviceable heat exchanger, the method comprising: a plating or coatingstep of performing a plating or coating process by immersing a frameinto a plating solution or a coating solution in a state that aplurality of linear coils have been installed at the frame such that thelinear coils are supported by a supporting portion of the frame; and aheat exchanger coil completion step of completing a heat exchanger coilby fittedly-coupling a connection coil to the linear coils installed atthe frame.

The present invention may have the following advantages. However, thepresent invention may be implemented with any of the followingadvantages.

Firstly, the heat exchanger coil may be configured as the linear coilsand the connection coil in a separate manner. This may allow a platingor coating process in a state that only the linear coils have beeninstalled at the frame. Accordingly, an inner circumferential surface ofthe linear coils as well as an outer circumferential surface may beeasily plated or coated.

Secondly, the heat exchanger coil may be configured as the linear coilsand the connection coil in a separate manner, and may be implemented asa serviceable anticorrosion coil. This may facilitate separation of theheat exchanger coil. Accordingly, the heat exchanger coil may bepartially maintained/repaired and replaced.

Thirdly, the linear coils and the connection coil of the heat exchangercoil may be fittedly-coupled to each other rather than being welded toeach other. This may prevent damages of plating or coating of the linearcoils.

Fourthly, the groove or hole for mounting the linear coils may be formedat the supporting portion of the frame. This may allow an installationposition of the linear coils to be determined, and may prevent shakingof the linear coils.

Fifthly, the hole of the supporting portion of the frame may beprotruded by punching. This may allow the linear coils to be supportedmore stably. The protruded hole may serve as a spring for absorbingvibrations and impacts of the heat exchanger coil. Especially, theprotruded punched parts of the supporting portion of the frame may becut in plurality so as to be separated from each other in acircumferential direction of the hole. This may allow a characteristicof the spring to be more enhanced.

Sixthly, the bush may be interposed between the hole of the supportingportion of the frame and the linear coils. Accordingly, the bush mayserve as a spring. Furthermore, in a case that the frame and the linearcoils are formed of different materials, may be prevented corrosion ofthe heat exchanger coil due to a contact between the heterogeneousmaterials, etc.

Further scope of applicability of the present application will becomemore apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However,it should be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a serpentine-type serviceable heatexchanger in accordance with the conventional art;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a serpentine-type serviceable heatexchanger according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along direction of the arrow of ‘A’ in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along direction of the arrow of ‘B’ in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a serpentine-type serviceableheat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a coupled state of a serpentine-typeserviceable heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a joint of a serpentine-type heatexchanger coil according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a detachable state of aserpentine-type heat exchanger coil according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a frame of a serpentine-type serviceableheat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a supporting portion of a frame of aserpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a supporting portion of a frame of aserpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line ‘C-C’ in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a supporting portion of a frame of aserpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger according to still anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a supporting portion of a serpentine-typeserviceable heat exchanger according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is a front view of a supporting portion of a serpentine-typeserviceable heat exchanger according to still another embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a heat exchanger coil of aserpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger according to still anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Description will now be given in detail of the exemplary embodiments,with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of briefdescription with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalentcomponents will be provided with the same reference numbers, anddescription thereof will not be repeated.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 16, a serpentine-type serviceable heat exchangeraccording to one embodiment of the present invention may comprise a heatexchanger coil 100 formed in a serpentine shape and configured to guidea heat transfer medium, and a frame 200 configured to support the heatexchanger coil 100.

The heat exchanger coil 100 includes a plurality of linear coils 110disposed in parallel, and a connection coil 120 disposed between the twoneighboring linear coils 110 and fittedly-coupled to the linear coils110 such that a serpentine-type inner passage 102 is formed as thelinear coils 110 are connected to each other by the connection coil 120.

The heat exchanger coil 100 may be installed at one frame 200 inplurality in one direction with a space therebetween. And, the pluralityof linear coils 110 of one heat exchanger coil 100 may be disposed inparallel in line in a direction different from a spaced direction of theheat exchanger coils 100, e.g., in up and down direction as shown.

The connection coil 120 may include a body portion 130 which forms theinner passage 102 of the heat exchanger coil 100 so as to befittedly-coupled to the linear coils 110, and a joint 140 integrallyprovided at two ends of the body portion 130 so as to befittedly-coupled to the linear coils 110.

The joint 140 may be configured as follows so that the connection coil120 can be fittedly-coupled to the linear coils 110 with a sealed state,and so that the connection coil 120 and the linear coils 110 can beseparated from each other.

That is, the joint 140 may include a body 142 integrally connected tothe body portion 130, a stopping member 144, a radius-direction elasticmember 145, a shaft-direction elastic member 146, a cover member 147, asealing 148 and an annular ring 149. The body 142 has a cavity foraccommodating the linear coils 110 therein. And, the body 142 may have aring-shaped groove portion 142 a having a diameter larger than that ofthe inner passage 102 of the body portion 130 of the connection coil 120along an inner circumferential wall, and an inclination portion 142 b. Adiameter of the inclination portion 142 b of the body 142 may begradually increased or decreased toward the joint 140 from the bodyportion 130 of the connection coil 120. The stopping member 144 isconfigured to stop movements of the linear coils 110 accommodated in thebody 142. The stopping member 144 has an outer circumferential surfaceinclined in correspondence to the inclination portion 142 b, and movesalong the inclination portion 142 b. The stopping member 144 is formedto have an arc shape of the same size, and is formed in three separatedfrom each other for a stabilized structure. A plurality of ring-shapedsaw-teeth 144 a inclined in an introduction direction of the linearcoils 110 may be formed on an inner circumferential surface of thestopping member 144. The radius-direction elastic member 145 forelastically supporting the stopping member 144 in a radius direction maybe implemented as a ring or a sealing having a predetermined diameter.The shaft-direction elastic member 146 is configured to elasticallysupporting the stopping member 144 in a shaft direction, e.g., anintroduction direction of the linear coils 110 or an opposite directionthereto. The cover member 147 may be implemented as a ring having aninner diameter for fitted-insertion of the linear coils 110. The covermember 147 may be provided with a tool insertion groove 147 a so that atool 160 for inserting the stopping member 144 can be inserted into thebody 142.

The connection coil 120 and the linear coils 110 may be fittedly-coupledby the joint 140 as follows.

As shown in FIG. 8, the tool 160 is inserted into the body 142 of thejoint 140, thereby inserting the stopping member 144 of the joint 140into the connection coil 120. Then, the linear coils 110 arefittedly-inserted into the body 142 of the joint 140.

Since the stopping member 144 of the joint 140 has been inserted intothe connection coil 120, the linear coils 110 can be easilyfittedly-inserted into the body 142 of the joint 140 without beinginterfered by the stopping member 144 of the joint 140. Once the tool160 is drawn out after the linear coils 110 have been fittedly-insertedinto the body 142 of the joint 140, the stopping member 144 of the joint140 moves to the outside of the connection coil 120 by an elasticresilience of the shaft-direction elastic member 146 of the joint 140.As a result, the stopping member 144 may be closely adhered to thelinear coils 110 to make the linear coils 110 in a locked state as shownin FIG. 6. This may allow the connection coil 120 and the linear coils110 to be firmly fittedly-coupled to each other with a sealed state.

Next, the connection coil 120 and the linear coils 110 may be separatedfrom each other as follows.

As shown in FIG. 8, the tool 160 is inserted into the body 142 of thejoint 140 through the tool insertion groove 147 a of the cover member147 of the joint 140, so that the stopping member 144 of the joint 140is inserted into the connection coil 120. As a result, the stoppingmember 144 of the joint 140 is separated from the linear coils 110, sothat the locked state of the linear coils 110 by the stopping member 144of the joint 140 is released. This may allow the linear coils 110 to beseparated from the connection coil 120.

The connection coil 120 may be formed in any shape. However, it isadvantageous for the connection coil 120 to have a bent shape like ahorseshoe as shown, so that a flow resistance of a heat transfer mediumcan be minimized.

The frame 200 may have an edge forming portion 210 which forms an edgeso that the heat exchanger coil 100 can be installed therein, and asupporting portion 220 which supports the heat exchanger coil 100installed in an edge formed by the edge forming portion.

The edge forming portion 210 of the frame 200 may be have aparallelepiped structure as shown. However, the edge forming portion 210may have various structures.

Preferably, the supporting portion 220 of the frame 200 is formed inplurality in a lengthwise direction of the linear coils 110 so as tostably support the linear coils 110. More preferably, as shown, thesupporting portion 220 of the frame 200 is configured to support twoends of the linear coils 110 at least in a lengthwise direction of thelinear coils 110. If the linear coils 110 are long, the supportingportion 220 of the frame 200 may be added by one or more so as tosupport a middle part of the linear coils 110 in a lengthwise directionof the linear coils 110.

The supporting portion 220 may be fixed to the edge forming portion 210by welding, etc., or may be detachably coupled to the edge formingportion 210 in a bolt coupling manner, or in a slide fitting manner,etc.

The supporting portion 220 may be configured to support the linear coils110 by itself. Alternatively, the supporting portion 220 may be providedwith a groove 222 or a hole 224 for mounting the linear coils 110 asshown. In this case, as the linear coils 110 are mounted to the groove222 or the hole 224 of the supporting portion 220, installationpositions of the linear coils 110 are determined under guide of thesupporting portion 220. This may prevent shaking of the linear coils110, and may allow the linear coils 110 to maintain an arranged state.

As shown in FIGS. 9 to 13 and FIG. 5, the supporting portion 220 may beimplemented as a plate 220A having a plurality of holes 224. In thiscase, the supporting portion 220 may be implemented as a plate 220A of asize large enough to cover or partition one surface of the edge formingportion 210 so that all of the linear coils 110 can be mounted thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the hole 224 of the supporting portion 220may be formed by punching the plate 220A in a direction where the linearcoils 110 are inserted, and by protruding the punched parts 226. Due tothe protruded punched parts 226 of the supporting portion 220, thelinear coils 110 may be supported more stably. In a case that the plate220A is formed of a material such as aluminum or plastic having a lowstrength in a thin thickness, the protruded punched parts 226 of thesupporting portion 220 the protruded punched parts 226 of the supportingportion 220 may on the heat exchanger coil 100 to be absorbed.Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the protruded punched parts 226 of thesupporting portion 220 may be cut in plurality along the circumferenceof the hole 224 of the supporting portion 220. This may enhance a springcharacteristic. As the protruded punched parts 226 of the supportingportion 220 can be widened, the linear coils 110 may be easilyfittedly-inserted into the hole 224. And, as the protruded punched parts226 of the supporting portion 220 are closely adhered to the linearcoils 110, the linear coils 110 may be supported more stably.

As shown in FIG. 13, a bush 230 may be interposed between the holes 224of the supporting portion 220 and the linear coils 110. The bush 230 maybe formed of a material such as plastic or rubber so as to serve as aspring.

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the supporting portion 220 configured as theplate 220A may be integrally formed. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15,the supporting portion 220 may be formed in plurality so as to beseparated from each other based on the hole 224. Under thisconfiguration, the supporting portion 220 may be alternately arrangedwith the linear coils 110.

As shown in FIG. 14, the supporting portion 220 may be installed inplurality in up and down directions of the edge forming portion 210 soas to support the linear coils 110, and may be configured as a steel bar220B having the groove 222.

The frame 200 may be installed with a first header 300 and a secondheader 310. The first header 300 is connected to one of two ends of theheat exchanger coil 100, and is configured to guide introduction of aheat transfer medium into the heat exchanger coil 100. And, the secondheader 310 is connected to another of the two ends of the heat exchangercoil 100, and is configured to guide discharge of a heat transfer mediumfrom the heat exchanger coil 100.

Each of the first header 300 and the second header 310 may be providedwith a plurality of coil connection openings so as to be connected tothe plurality of heat exchanger coils 100, and may be fittedly-coupledto the plurality of heat exchanger coils 100.

For fitted-coupling between the first and second headers 300, 310 andthe heat exchanger coils 100, the coil connection openings of the firstheader 300 and the second header 310 may be integrally provided withjoints such as the joint 140 of the connection coil 120. Alternatively,the first header 300 and the second header 310 may be coupled to theheat exchanger coils 100 by coupling that the joint 140 of theconnection coil 120 is formed at two sides.

Hereinafter, will be explained a method for manufacturing theserpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger according to the presentinvention.

Firstly, a plurality of linear coils 110 are installed at a frame sothat the linear coils 110 can be supported by a supporting portion 220of the frame 200.

Then, the frame 200 having the linear coils 110 installed thereat isimmersed in a plating solution or a coating solution for prevention ofcorrosion, so that an inner circumferential surface of the linear coils110 as well as an outer circumferential surface can be integrally platedor coated. Here, the plurality of linear coils 110 may be uniformlyplated or coated since they are supported by the frame 200. When thelinear coils 110 are fittedly-inserted into the holes of the supportingportion 220 of the frame 200 after being plated or coated, the platingor coating of the linear coils 110 may be peeled off due to interferencebetween the linear coils 110 and the supporting portion 220 of the frame200. However, in the present invention, the linear coils 110 are platedor coated in a state of being supported by the frame 200. This mayprevent the plating or coating of the linear coils 110 from beingdamaged.

After the plating or coating, the connection coil 120 isfittedly-coupled to the linear coils 110 installed at the frame 200,respectively. As a result, the heat exchanger coil 100 is completed.Here, the linear coils 110 and the connection coil 120 are coupled toeach other in a fitted-coupling manner, rather than by welding. This mayprevent the plating or coating of the linear coils 110 from beingdamaged. And, this may allow the linear coils 110 to be easily separatedfrom or re-coupled to the connection coil 120 for maintenance/repair andreplacement of the heat exchanger coil 100. The connection coil 120 maybe separately plated or coated in advance for prevention of corrosion,etc.

Even if the connection coil 120 is bent in a horseshoe shape, an innercircumferential surface of the connection coil 120 as well as an outercircumferential surface may be easily plated or coated due to a shortlength of the connection coil 120.

Then, the heat exchanger coil 100 is fittedly-coupled to the firstheader 300 and the second header 310. As a result, the serpentine-typeserviceable heat exchanger may be completed.

Referring to FIG. 16, a serpentine-type serviceable heat exchangeraccording to another embodiment of the present invention may compriselinear coils 110, a connection coil 120 bent in a horseshoe shape, and ajoint 1000 fittedly-coupled to the connection coil 120 and the linearcoils 110 in a separable manner so that the connection coil 120 and thelinear coils 110 are integrally connected to each other. The joint 1000may include a body portion 1100 formed in a pipe shape so that theconnection coil 120 and the linear coils 110 can be fittedly-insertedinto two ends thereof, and a joint portion 1200 corresponding to thejoint of the connection coil of FIGS. 1-15 for fitted-coupling to theconnection coil 120 and the linear coils 110. Another embodiment has thesame or similar configuration as/to the configurations of theaforementioned embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-15, and thus detailedexplanations thereof will be omitted.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The presentteachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thisdescription is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scopeof the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods,and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described hereinmay be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternativeexemplary embodiments.

As the present features may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understoodthat the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of thedetails of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, butrather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in theappended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fallwithin the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metesand bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

1. A serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger, the heat exchangercomprising: a heat exchanger coil having a plurality of linear coilsdisposed in parallel, and a connection coil disposed between the twoneighboring linear coils and fittedly-coupled to the linear coils suchthat a serpentine-type inner passage is formed as the linear coils areconnected to each other by the connection coil; and a frame having anedge forming portion which forms an edge such that the heat exchangercoil is installed therein, and a supporting portion which supports theheat exchanger coil installed in an edge formed by the edge formingportion.
 2. The serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger of claim 1,wherein the connection coil is bent in a horseshoe shape.
 3. Theserpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein theconnection coil is bent in a horseshoe shape, and wherein the heatexchanger further comprises a joint fittedly-coupled to the connectioncoil and the linear coils in a separable manner such that the connectioncoil and the linear coils are integrally connected to each other.
 4. Theserpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein theconnection coil includes: a body portion which forms an inner passage ofthe heat exchanger coil; and a joint integrally provided at the bodyportion so as to be fittedly-coupled to the linear coils in a separablemanner, and wherein the joint includes: a body extending from the bodyportion, configured to accommodate the linear coils therein, and havingan inclination portion of which diameter is gradually decreased towardthe joint from the body portion; stopping members formed in an arc shapeof the same size, spaced from each other in a circumferential directionof the body, and configured to lock or unlock the linear coilsaccommodated in the body while moving along the inclination portion ofthe body; and a shaft-direction elastic member configured to elasticallysupport the stopping members toward the joint from the body portion. 5.The serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein thesupporting portion is formed in plurality in a lengthwise direction ofthe linear coils.
 6. The serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger ofclaim 1, wherein the supporting portion is fixed to the edge formingportion or is detachably coupled to the edge forming portion, andwherein the supporting portion has a groove or a hole for mounting thelinear coils.
 7. The serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger of claim6, wherein the supporting portion is configured as a plate in which thehole is formed in plurality.
 8. The serpentine-type serviceable heatexchanger of claim 7, wherein the holes of the supporting portion areformed by punching the plate in a direction where the linear coils areinserted, and by protruding the punched parts.
 9. The serpentine-typeserviceable heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein the protruded punchedparts of the supporting portion are cut in plurality along thecircumference of the hole.
 10. The serpentine-type serviceable heatexchanger of claim 7, wherein a bush is interposed between the hole ofthe supporting portion and the linear coils.
 11. The serpentine-typeserviceable heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the frame includes afirst header and a second header connected to two ends of the heatexchanger coil, respectively, and configured to guide introduction anddischarge of a heat transfer fluid, and wherein the first header and thesecond header are fittedly-coupled to the heat exchanger coil by thejoint.
 12. The serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger of claim 2,wherein the connection coil includes: a body portion which forms aninner passage of the heat exchanger coil; and a joint integrallyprovided at the body portion so as to be fittedly-coupled to the linearcoils in a separable manner, and wherein the joint includes: a bodyextending from the body portion, configured to accommodate the linearcoils therein, and having an inclination portion of which diameter isgradually decreased toward the joint from the body portion; stoppingmembers formed in an arc shape of the same size, spaced from each otherin a circumferential direction of the body, and configured to lock orunlock the linear coils accommodated in the body while moving along theinclination portion of the body; and a shaft-direction elastic memberconfigured to elastically support the stopping members toward the jointfrom the body portion.
 13. The serpentine-type serviceable heatexchanger of claim 12, wherein the supporting portion is fixed to theedge forming portion or is detachably coupled to the edge formingportion, and wherein the supporting portion is configured as a plate inwhich the hole for mounting the linear coils is formed in plurality. 14.The serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger of claim 13, wherein theholes of the supporting portion are formed by punching the plate in adirection where the linear coils are inserted, and by protruding thepunched parts.
 15. The serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger ofclaim 14, wherein the protruded punched parts of the supporting portionare cut in plurality along the circumference of the hole.
 16. Theserpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger of claim 13, wherein a bushis interposed between the hole of the supporting portion and the linearcoils.
 17. The serpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger of claim 12,wherein the connection coil is bent in a horseshoe shape.
 18. Theserpentine-type serviceable heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein theconnection coil is bent in a horseshoe shape, and wherein the heatexchanger further comprises a joint fittedly-coupled to the connectioncoil and the linear coils in a separable manner such that the connectioncoil and the linear coils are integrally connected to each other.
 19. Amethod for manufacturing the serpentine-type serviceable heat exchangerof claim 1, the method comprising: a plating or coating step ofperforming a plating or coating process by immersing a frame into aplating solution or a coating solution in a state that a plurality oflinear coils have been installed at the frame such that the linear coilsare supported by a supporting portion of the frame; and a heat exchangercoil completion step of completing a heat exchanger coil byfittedly-coupling a connection coil to the linear coils installed at theframe.
 20. A method for manufacturing the serpentine-type serviceableheat exchanger of claim 12, the method comprising: a plating or coatingstep of performing a plating or coating process by immersing a frameinto a plating solution or a coating solution in a state that aplurality of linear coils have been installed at the frame such that thelinear coils are supported by a supporting portion of the frame; and aheat exchanger coil completion step of completing a heat exchanger coilby fittedly-coupling a connection coil to the linear coils installed atthe frame.